New research shows nature can help those suffering from PTSD
August 08, 2018
The great outdoors can make an impact on those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to recent research from UC Berkeley psychologists.
The studies tracked psychological and physiological changes in military veterans’ and at-risk inner-city youths’ stress hormones and markers of immune function before and after white-water rafting trips. The findings, published in the journal Emotion, show that awe – not joy, pride, amusement or contentment – is the feeling that best boost’s one’s mood.
“It’s the active ingredient that explains why being in nature is good for us,” said Craig Anderson, lead author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley and UCSF. “The more awe people felt during the white-water rafting trips, the happier and less stressed they were a week later.”
Indeed, a week after white-water rafting, participants in the study reported, on average, a 29 percent decrease in PTSD symptoms, a 21 percent reduction in stress, 10 percent enhancement in relationships, 9 percent increase in life satisfaction and 8 percent improvement in happiness.
The research further suggests awe is contagious, as teams in the same raft experienced similar benefits.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates PTSD affects about 30 percent of Vietnam veterans,12 percent of Gulf War veterans and 11-20 percent of veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.